System and method for personalizing a hearing aid

ABSTRACT

A method of personalizing at least one hearing aid for a hearing aid user includes the steps of manufacturing a hearing aid (1), receiving an audiogram from a server (37) for the hearing aid user, programming the hearing aid (1) by means of the audiogram, whereby the hearing aid (1) becomes personalized for the hearing aid user. Hereafter, the personalized hearing aid(s) (1) is/are delivered to the hearing aid user who may then put it into use. If there arises a need for fine tuning, the hearing aid user may request a consultation with a hearing healthcare professional. The hearing healthcare professional has equipment (44, 45) for fine tuning the hearing aid (1), and he may fine tune the personalized hearing aid(s) (1) in dialogue with the hearing aid user. The invention further provides a hearing aid delivering system and an Internet enabled personal communication device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a National Stage of International Application No.PCT/EP2015/068762 filed Aug. 14, 2015.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hearing aids. The invention, moreparticularly, relates to a method for personalizing a hearing aid. Theinvention also relates to a system for personalizing a hearing aid.

When fitting a hearing aid, the initial fitting appointment is rarelysufficient, and multiple follow-up visits are often necessary. Mostaudiologists provide an up-to-date audiogram at the time of purchase.

Recently, hearing aids with wireless connectivity based on an opentelecom protocol have reached the market. Binaural hearing aids based onproprietary communication protocols have been on the market for adecade. The Bluetooth connectivity is the most recent innovation inwireless interfacing for hearing instruments to audio sources such as TVstreamers or mobile phones. Basically the fitting requires setting of aset of parameters. Hearing aids are quite small, and computer-wise mosthearing aid have difficulties in handling major batches of softwarereceived in data packets as the hearing aids are missing a workingmemory of sufficient size. The preferred open telecom protocol has datapacket size far too limited to handle the entire set of parameters toset in a few data packets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the invention is to provide a method of personalizing aset of hearing aids without requiring multiple follow-up visits at theaudiologists.

This purpose is according to the invention achieved by a method ofpersonalizing at least one hearing aid for a hearing aid user. Themethod comprises manufacturing at least one hearing aid at amanufacturing facility, receiving an audiogram from a server for thehearing aid user, programming the at least one hearing aid in aprogramming station of the manufacturing facility by means of theaudiogram, whereby the at least one hearing aid becomes personalized forthe hearing aid user, packaging, in packaging station of themanufacturing facility, the at least one hearing aid for distribution,and delivering the at least one personalized hearing aid to the hearingaid user.

Advantageously a consultation between the hearing aid user and a hearinghealthcare professional having equipment for fine tuning the hearing aidmay hereafter be set up. The fine tuning equipment is connected to theat least one personalized hearing aid, and the fine tuning of the atleast one personalized hearing aid is carried out in dialogue betweenthe hearing healthcare professional and the hearing aid user. Hereby theprimary programming of the hearing aid may take place in the factoryenvironment—preferably when the hearing aid is placed in a jig fortesting. The jig for testing the hearing aid then preferably includesthe programming station. The programming may then in one embodiment becarried out by means of a reliable wired programming connection.Hereafter, the hearing aids only need fine tuning.

The fine tuning takes place in dialogue between a hearing healthcareprofessional and the hearing aid user. Often the hearing healthcareprofessional presents the user for one or more sound environments, andbased upon the feedback from the hearing aid user, the hearinghealthcare professional corrects a limited number of parameters in theoverall parameter set for personalizing the hearing aid. Bluetooth LowEnergy will become the de facto standard for the connectivity betweenhearing aid and connected devices like smartphones, PC's, tablets,televisions etc. Bluetooth Low Energy with an appropriate audio codecwill become the standard for audio streaming to hearing aids. Thechallenge for a hearing aid is that the hearing aid lacks computingresources, so the hearing aid is not able to receive and temporarilystore data for subsequently overwriting a current setting. The challengeof Bluetooth Low Energy is that data is sent as packets, the datapackets having a payload between 2 to 39 bytes. By providing theprogramming as a step programming according to the invention, the finetuning may be carried out by adjusting individual parameter which maytake place by sending data in a single data packet and write data in theappropriate memory location. Several parameters may be adjusted byrepeating the step of transmitting and writing for several successivedata packets.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided ahearing aid delivering system for personalizing one or more hearingaids. The hearing aid delivering system includes at a server managinguser accounts for a plurality of hearing aid users, said user accountsincluding an audiogram for a hearing aid user, and a programming stationadapted to receive said one or more hearing aids and programminginstructions from said server for pre-programming said one or morehearing aids by means of the audiogram, whereby said one or more hearingaids become personalized for alleviating the hearing loss of the hearingaid user.

Preferably the hearing aid delivering system includes programmingequipment for, during fine tuning in consultation between the hearingaid user and a hearing healthcare professional, to be connected to thehearing aid, whereby the hearing healthcare professional connects hisfine tuning equipment to the at least one personalized hearing aid, andcarries out the fine tuning of the at least one personalized hearing aidin dialogue with the hearing aid user.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided anhearing aid personalization system for personalizing at least onehearing aid for a hearing aid user, wherein the hearing aidpersonalization system is present in a manufacturing facility andreceives said at least one hearing aid. The hearing aid personalizationsystem comprises a server managing accounts including personalinformation and audiograms for a plurality of hearing aid users aprogramming station for programming the at least one hearing aid bymeans of a audiogram received from the server, whereby the at least onehearing aid becomes personalized for the hearing aid user, a packagingstation for packaging the at least one hearing aid, and a distributionunit for delivering the at least one hearing aid to the hearing aid userbased on personal information received from the server.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided anInternet enabled personal communication device for use in hearing aiddelivering system according to the second aspect of the invention. TheInternet enabled personal communication device comprises a wirelesstransceiver for establishing a short range wireless connection to the atleast one hearing aid, and a processor for executing fitting softwareprogram allowing a hearing healthcare professional to fine tune the atleast one personalized hearing aid in dialogue with the hearing aiduser, wherein said processor is adapted to retrieve data relating to thepre-programming of the at least one hearing aid from a remote server viathe internet.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided acomputer-readable storage medium having computer-executableinstructions, which, when executed in an Internet enabled personalcommunication device, are adapted for providing a user-interface for ahearing healthcare professional for fine tuning the at least onepersonalized hearing aid in dialogue with the hearing aid user, andretrieving data relating to the pre-programming of the at least onehearing aid from the remote server via the internet and presenting thedata in the user interface.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention there is provided acomputer-readable storage medium having computer-executableinstructions, which, when executed in an Internet enabled personalcommunication device acting as a gateway between at least one hearingaid and a remote server accessible over the Internet, are adapted toproviding a real-time direct, encrypted communication channel between anend-user client defined by the computer-executable instructions and theat least one personalized hearing aid, said communication channelallowing a hearing healthcare professional to fine tune the at least onepersonalized hearing aid in dialogue with the hearing aid user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in further detail with reference topreferred aspects and the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates schematically a hearing aid according to anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates schematically the interaction of the hearing aidsduring the programming according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a schematic representation of a useraccount according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart for programming a set of hearing aidsaccording to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates the handling flow according to one embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 6 illustrates schematically fine tuning programming of a hearingaid according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates schematically a fine tuning programming of a hearingaid according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates schematically a fine tuning programming of a hearingaid according to a third embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 9 compares the programming process according to one embodiment ofthe invention to a process according to the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is made to FIG. 1, which schematically illustrates a hearingaid 1 manufactured and personalized for a hearing aid user according toa first embodiment of the invention.

On the input side, the hearing aid 1 comprises an analog input stage 10receiving input from one or more acoustical-electrical input transducer11 for picking up the acoustic sound and a telecoil 12. The analog inputstage 10 pre-amplifies and converts the analog audio signals from theinput transducer 11 and the telecoil 12 into digital signals, and theanalog input stage 10 feeds the digital signals to a processor 17.

The hearing aid 1 includes a standard hearing aid battery 24 and a powermanagement unit 23 ensuring that the various components are powered bypredetermined stable voltages regardless of the momentary voltage valuedefined by the discharging curve of the battery 24.

A wireless communication unit 21 includes an antenna 22 forcommunication with other devices via a short range communication link.Such a short range communication link may be provided by Bluetooth™ LowEnergy which is a wireless technology standard for exchanging data overshort distances (typically less than 10 m), operating in the samespectrum range (2402-2480 MHz) as Classic Bluetooth technology. Howeverother standards—like WLAN or proprietary standards—may be applicable ifa wide availability and low power consumption is present. A BluetoothCore System consists of an RF transceiver, baseband (after downconversion), and protocol stack (SW embedded in a dedicated Bluetooth™Integrated Circuit. The system offers services that enable theconnection of devices and the exchange of a variety of classes of databetween these devices.

The wireless communication unit 21 has a digital interface towards theprocessor 17, and delivers digital signals to the processor 17 basedupon the radio signal received by the antenna 22, and these digitalsignals includes an indication of the type of data and the actualpayload. The payload may be control signals controlling the operation ofthe hearing aid, audio data representing audio streamed to the hearingfrom a remote device like a smartphone paired with hearing aid, a smarttelevision or another device having audio streaming capabilitiesmatching the wireless communication interface of the hearing aid 1. Thepayload may also be audio signals or control signals from a similarhearing aid 1 in a pair of binaural hearing aids.

The processor 17 is a digital signal processor adapted for amplifyingand conditioning of the audio signal intended to become presented forthe hearing aid user. The amplification and conditioning is carried outaccording to a predetermined setting in order to alleviate a hearingloss by amplifying sound at frequencies in those parts of the audiblefrequency range where the user suffers a hearing deficit.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the processor 17 includesan inherent volatile memory 18 requiring power to maintain the storedinformation. The content of the volatile memory 18 is erased every timethe hearing aid is switched off. The processor 17 further includes anon-volatile memory 16 which retains stored information even when notpowered. The predetermined setting in order to alleviate a hearing lossis stored in the non-volatile memory 16, while control settings input bythe user in order to adjust the volume, select an acoustical program oractivate audio input source are stored in the volatile memory 18. Thenon-volatile memory 16 contains default settings to be read into thevolatile memory 18 when powering on the hearing aid. Examples ofnon-volatile memories are flash memory, EPROM or EEPROM memory used forfirmware such as boot programs. Examples of volatile memory are varioustypes of RAM.

The hearing aid 1 has a user interface unit 13 including a push button14—e.g. for toggling between the hearing aid programs—and apotentiometer 15 for volume control. The user interface unit 13transfers the input to the processor 17 storing the user input in thenon-volatile memory 18 for controlling the hearing aid.

The processor 17 outputs according to one embodiment of the invention adigital a digital signal fed to a digital output stage 19 including aDelta-Sigma-converter providing an electrical output signal formed as aone-bit digital data stream fed directly to an output transducer 20,i.e. the output converter drives the transducer 20 directly as a class Damplifier.

Hearing aid programming includes two different aspects—acousticprogramming refers to setting parameters (e.g. gain and frequencyresponse) affecting the sound output to the user, which carries risk ofpotentially damaging the residual hearing by making wrong settings; andoperational programming refers to settings which do not affect the soundsignificantly, such as volume control and selection of environmentalprograms. The programming steps according to the invention refer toacoustic programming.

The battery 24 is in normal operation used for powering on the hearingaid 1, and in the illustrated embodiment, the battery 24 is preferablyone of a plurality of standardized hearing aid battery types which areuniquely identified via a color code and a size number—includingyellow/size 10, brown/size 312, orange/size 13, and blue/size 675. Whenthe battery 24 is removed and the battery door (not-shown) is opened,one can access the interior of the battery compartment. Hereby a testand programming connector interface 26 become available for programmingand testing the hearing aid 1 prior to leaving the manufacturingfacility. Hereby it is possible to place the hearing aid 1 in a test andprogramming jig 41 (FIG. 2) having a plug to be received in the emptybattery compartment. The plug has a plurality of test and programmingconnector parts interoperating with the test and programming connectorinterface 26 inside the empty battery compartment. The plug will poweron the hearing aid by applying a stable battery voltage to a batteryconnector pin and ground via a ground pin. Two further connector pinsare indicated—one serial signal input and one serial signal output. Thetest and programming connector interface 26 may however includeadditional connector pins, e.g. if parallel signal input/output isapplied.

The test and programming connector interface 26 is used to run some testroutines of the hearing aid 1 prior to the shipping from themanufacturing facility. Hereby, it becomes possible to verify that thehearing aid 1 operates within the specifications when leaving themanufacturing line. According to one embodiment, the test andprogramming connector interface 26 is used for programming a pair ofhearing aids 1 according to a prescription developed to reach a settingwhere the pair of hearing aids 1 will alleviate a hearing loss of aspecific user by amplifying sound at frequencies in those parts of theaudible frequency range where the specific user suffers a hearingdeficit.

This programming is based upon an audiogram made available for themanufacturing facility. Hereby the hearing aids 1 become personalizedprior to leaving the manufacturing facility; and the programming at themanufacturing facility becomes a first fitting step which takes place ina factory environment based on uploading of the audiogram of the anduser. This is beneficial as the first fitting step takes place as partof a manufacturing facility environment where technicians in themanufacturing facility are expert in manipulating the hearing aids, andthe test and programming jig 41 is dedicated for this sole purpose. Thenumber of items passing through the test and programming jig 41 ishigher compared to normal fitting at a local (decentralized) fitter oraudiologist, and as a consequence the test and programming jig 41 can beoptimized with regard to programming speed, but also with regard tosecurity as a part of the programming may include a software controlledconfiguration of the hearing aid—defining features like number ofprocessing bands for the processor 17, transposing or compressing audioinput bands into lower bands where the hearing aid user actually doeshave some residual ability to hear, or other user specific programmablefeatures. This affects the selling point of the hearing aids 1, and thismay therefore be subject to organized fraud. By doing the essential partof the programming internally in manufacturing facility environment, thenumber of test and programming jigs 41 is reduced significantly, and themanagement of programming software becomes safer. By having the firstfitting step to take place in the manufacturing facility environment,the need for having a common programming interface serving allmanufacturing brands will be eliminated.

FIG. 2 shows a set of hearing aids 1 having an inter-ear communicationchannel 31, preferably based on a proprietary communication protocol orthe Bluetooth™ Low Energy protocol, which is preferred for thecommunication between the set of hearing aids 1 and a personalcommunication device 30—here shown as a smartphone. By using aproprietary communication protocol for the inter-ear communicationchannel 31, it is possible to optimize the inter-ear communicationchannel 31 with regard to power consumption, while by using theBluetooth™ Low Energy protocol for the inter-ear communication channel31, it is possible to reduce the number of radios required in thehearing aid. The set of hearing aids 1 is illustrated as Behind-The-Earhearing aids having customized ear plugs. However the invention isapplicable for any type of hearing aids, assistive hearing devices orassistive hearing systems being able to communicate with an externaldevice via the wireless connection 32.

The personal communication device 30 according to the invention isInternet enabled, which means that the personal communication device 30may access the Internet 35 via a connection 34. The connection 34 ispreferably a wireless Internet connection, (e.g. wireless local areanetwork (WLAN) based on IEEE 802.30 standards) or a cellular dataconnection (e.g. WCDMA or LTE). Advantageously, the personalcommunication device 30 has the ability to download and launchapplication software from a remote server on the Internet, e.g. an appstore. Furthermore, the personal communication device 30 will be able toaccess via the Internet 35 a master server 37 having user data storage38 for maintaining and storing a plurality of hearing aid user accounts.

The term “app” is short for “application software” which is a set of oneor more programs designed to carry out operations for a specificapplication. Application software cannot run on itself but is dependenton system software to execute.

The hearing aid user may from the personal communication device 30 orfrom a computer 36 via an appropriate Internet connection access themaster server 37 for inspecting or editing his own user account.Accessing user data stored on the master server 37 requires that thehearing aid user has the required access rights.

The hearing aid manufacturing company has according to one embodiment amanufacturing facility having a computer 36 controlling at least a partof the manufacturing process, and this computer 36 is connected to thetest and programming jig 41. The hearing aids 1 are transported on aconveyor 40 and transferred automatically or manually to the test andprogramming jig 41 for testing and programming. The computer 36 accessesthe master server 37 via an appropriate Internet connection forretrieving orders from customers, and sets the setting of the hearingaid 1 by programming. When tested and programmed, the personalizedhearing aids 1 are shipped to the designation indicated in the useraccount, and the manufacturing company updates the user account storedin the user data storage 38.

Entities distributing the hearing aids from the manufacturing companiesto the hearing impaired customer may, as assisting service providersdealing with e.g. end-user subscriptions from a service provider server42 via an appropriate Internet connection, access the master server 37having user data storage 38 for maintaining and storing hearing aid useraccounts—or at least relevant parts of the hearing aid user accounts.The service provider server 42 is connected to a data storage 43containing subscription data for a plurality of hearing impairedcustomers being customers at the entity. The entity may be a specialtystore, a factory owned store, a supermarket, an Internet shop, amembership warehouse club, a discount store or the like. Accessing userdata stored on the master server 37 requires that the entityrepresentative has proper/appropriate access rights.

Finally, authorized hearing healthcare professional or audiologists mayfrom a computer 44 via an appropriate Internet connection access themaster server 37 having user data storage 38 for maintaining and storinghearing aid user accounts. Accessing user data stored on the masterserver 37 requires that the authorized hearing healthcare professionalhas the appropriate access rights. The authorized hearing aidprofessionals have audiological test and fitting equipment 45 formeasuring and estimating the hearing loss of the customer, andsubsequently fitting a set of hearing aids 1 compensating for the uniquehearing loss of the customer. According to one embodiment of theinvention, an authorized hearing healthcare professional creates anaudiogram based on his audiological tests and uploads the audiogram tothe user account maintained by the master server 37, from where it isretrieved by the manufacturer for personalizing the requested set ofhearing aids 1.

As the essential step in fitting process has been taken at themanufacturing facilities, only the fine tuning—if required—is left andthis may take place as an interactive and iterative process. Thereforethe audiological test and fitting equipment 45 is adapted for wirelesscommunication directly with hearing aids 1 via a data link 46. The datalink 46 may be provided by means of a proprietary communication protocolused for the inter-ear communication channel 31, or by means of theBluetooth™ standard, e.g. according to Bluetooth™ Low Energy protocol,which is preferred for the communication between two hearing aids 1 andthe personal communication device 30.

According to one embodiment illustrated with reference to FIG. 3, theuser account created and maintained in the server 37 by the user andhearing professionals permitted by the user contains a data set 50. Thedata set 50 includes a personal information data field 51, whichtypically is the first data field filled out by the user when creatingan account. The personal information includes name, address andadditional contact data like phone number and e-mail address. A deliveryaddress data field 52 defines the delivery address for hardware to bedelivered to the hearing aid user. This hardware may include hearingaids returned from service, replacement hearing aids, batteries, waxguards, hearing aid drying boxes and other items ordered from theservice provider or the manufacturer. The delivery address is specifiedby the owner of the account and may be identical to the home addressidentified in the personal information data field 51, may identify apreferred pick up place (e.g. a medical house) or may identify apreferred pick up place in case the account is linked to a membership ina warehouse club.

In a social security data field 53, the user may enter his birthdayinformation and social security number, which may be used by the socialauthorities in cases these are committed to pay a part of the salesprize or subscription fees.

In an accounting data field 54, the manufacturer, the service provider,and the authorized hearing aid professional may enter respective serviceagreements and the user may enter billing details, such as that aninvoice is preferred or that an amount to be drawn from a specifiedcredit card is preferred. The service agreements may refer to aspecified fitting session, a hearing test, purchase of a specified setof hearing aids, subscription to a specified set of hearing aids,upgrade of an existing set of hearing aids, batteries, or replacementparts. The user has the right to approve the service agreements andenter billing details, while the service providers may enter serviceagreement details as price and conditions supported by one or moredocuments and use entered billing details for their own accounting. Theaccounting data field 54 will only contain one service agreement, and ifseveral service agreements are initiated, supplementing accounting datafields 54 will be created. Only parties to a service agreement do haveData Retrieval Rights to these data fields 54.

The data set 50 includes a dedicated Hearing Loss Characterization datafield 55 containing data representing the hearing loss of the useraccount owner.

In one embodiment, an authorized hearing healthcare professional oraudiologist tests the hearing of the user account owner. The audiologistobtains the results in an audiogram measured by an audiometer. Theaudiometer is test equipment used for evaluating hearing loss of apatient. Audiometers are standard equipment employed at ear-nose-throatclinics and in audiology centers. An audiometer usually includes ahardware unit connected to a pair of headphones, a test user interfaceoperated by the patient, and a control user interface operated by thehearing healthcare professional or the audiologist. The control userinterface may be a standard Personal Computer, a tablet PC, or a similarcomputing device. The audiogram is a graph showing the hearing lossmeasured in decibels for standardized frequencies in Hertz. Thethreshold of hearing is plotted relative to a standardized curve (0 dB)that represents “normal” hearing, in dB (HL). The audiologist may storethe audiogram in the dedicated Hearing Loss Characterization data field55.

In a second embodiment, the audiologist tests the hearing of the useraccount owner. The audiologist utilises in-situ audiometry, which takesinto account the individual characteristics of the ear canal and thehearing aid—giving a more precise basis for a successful fitting. Bymeans of in-situ audiometry the user's hearing threshold is measured ina plurality of basic frequency bands and represented in an audiogramwith in-situ measurements such as so-called Sensogram™ (trademark of theapplicant). The main advantage of using the Sensogram™ is that itrenders the first fitting of the hearing aid closer to the target, whichmeans that less fine tuning is needed. The audiologist may store theSensogram™ in the dedicated Hearing Loss Characterization data field 55.

In a third embodiment, the hearing of the user account owner is testedby means of a private computer. As older adults become more informationtechnology-savvy, there has been developed quick online hearingscreening tests to support the early detection and treatment of hearingloss. The online hearing screening shall assess the hearing threshold ofthe user without relying upon the user to calibrate the volume. Thispurpose is fulfilled by an adaptive logatome hearing screening methoddetermining the presence of hearing loss by measuring the SpeechReception Threshold (SRT) of the user in fluctuating noise. A logatomestimulus is presented (audio/speech) at various levels (adaptively)along with a fluctuating speech noise presented at a constant level, andthe test person has to identify the played stimuli among a plurality ofrelated logatomes presented graphically on a display. The SpeechReception Threshold in fluctuating noise increases significantly forthose with hearing loss, this information is compared againstestablished norms to yield a screening test result. The test showssufficiently good result for use as input for estimating an audiogramfor the tested hearing account owner. The user downloads the hearingtest from the service provider server 42, and the estimated audiogramfor the tested hearing account owner is automatically entered into theHearing Loss Characterization data field 55 in the user account in themaster server 37.

In a fourth embodiment, the hearing of the user account owner is testedby means of a private computer. A hearing loss might be inherited fromparents or acquired from illness, ototoxic (ear-damaging) drugs,exposure to loud noise, tumors, head injury, or the aging process.However mild and moderate hearing loss may be estimated by means of asimple questionnaire, as it has been recently understood that certainfactors affect the hearing loss. These factors includes age, sex (men'shearing degrades faster than women's), birth weight (low birth weightcauses faster degrading of hearing), and noise exposure (soldiers,hunters, musicians and people working in noisy environments do have afaster degrading of hearing). Other factors degrading the hearingincludes smoking, exposure to radiation therapy and chemotherapy,extensive use of pain relievers and certain antibiotics, and diseaseslike diabetes and sleep apnea. The answers to a simple questionnaireshow sufficiently good result for use as input for estimating anaudiogram for the tested hearing account owner. The user downloads thequestionnaire from the service provider server 42, and the estimatedaudiogram for the tested hearing account owner is automatically enteredinto the Hearing Loss Characterization data field 55 in the user accountin the master server 37.

According to the invention at least one hearing aid 1 becomespersonalized for a hearing aid user in two steps. The first step takesplace at a centralized location—e.g. in a test and programming station41 as a part of the manufacturing facility, or in a programming station41 at the distribution center. The test and programming station 41 isoptimized with regard to labor efficiency. The test and programmingstation 41 receives an audiogram from the server 37 for the specifichearing aid users and receives hearing aids from the manufacturing line40. The test and programming station 41 programs hereafter the hearingaid by means of the audiogram, whereby the at least one hearing aidbecomes personalized for the hearing aid user. Once a hearing aid 1 hasbeen approved in the testing process and programmed based upon theaudiogram in the dedicated Hearing Loss Characterization data field 55of a user account, the test and programming station 41 enters theproduct ID data read from the memory of the hearing aid 1 into adedicated hearing aid ID data field 57 of the user account in the masterserver 37. The product ID data may include hearing aid model, serialnumber, software and firmware version, and identify special hardware ifrequired. The test and programming station 41 also enters the settingsfor alleviating the hearing loss calculated based on the audiogram intoa hearing compensation profile data field 56. Afterwards, an authorizedhearing aid professional will for his clients have Data Update Rights tothe Hearing Loss Characterization data field 55 and the hearingcompensation profile data field 56.

As a part of the programming the test and programming station 41 willretrieve the delivery address from the delivery address data field 52,and print a label based on the delivery address, and the least onepersonalized hearing aid 1 can be delivered to the address specified bythe hearing aid user.

For each user account there is provided a data field 58 containingsecurity elements including credentials for access to one or more datafields in the hearing aid user account and secure keys for establishinga secure connection between the master server 37 and the hearing aid 1.

The method of personalizing a hearing aid 1 according to the inventionmay be regarded as a fitting process where the primary programming takesplace prior to the hearing aid leaves the factory or as a hearing aid ondemand service. In some cases the personalized hearing aid 1 needs finetuning, and this fine tuning then takes place in a consultation with ahearing healthcare professional.

The method will now be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. Instep 100, a hearing aid 1 is manufactured in a hearing aid assemblingunit 60 in a per se known manner, and in step 101 the manufacturedhearing aid 1 is placed in the test and programming jig 41, where theperformance of the manufactured hearing aid 1 is tested. In step 102,the computer 36 retrieves the audiogram from the user account in themaster server 37, and in step 103, the set of hearing aids 1 isconfigured and personalized settings are programmed based on theaudiogram. In step 104, the computer 36 retrieves the hearing aid IDfrom the hearing aid 1 and stores the Hearing aid ID in the user accountin the master server 37. In step 105, the computer 36 retrieves thedelivery address from the user account in the master server 37, and addsthis information to the programmed set of hearing aids 1 forwarded to apackaging station 61 for packaging and labelling. From a distributionunit 62 the hearing aids are shipped to the customer, and the deliveringtakes place in step 106. The primary programming or personalizationtakes place at a central location—preferably at the manufacturingfacilities—in steps 100-105. The primary programming is in oneembodiment based upon a wired connection between the hearing aid 1 andthe test and programming computer 36, however in some circumstances awireless connection may be applicable.

In step 107, the hearing aid user receives his set of hearing aids1—either at home or at the audiologist, and he brings the hearing aids 1into use by inserting batteries and placing the hearing aids 1 in hisears. In step 108, the user pairs his new hearing aids 1 with hispersonal communication device 30. The benefit of using Bluetooth™ LowEnergy is that many different personal communication devices 30 likesmartphones, hearing aid streamers, tablet PC's and laptops alreadysupport the standard, whereby the hearing aid 1 by pairing with one ofthese personal communication devices 30 can use the personalcommunication device 30 as a gateway to the Internet 35.

When the set of hearing aids 1 has been connected to the Internet, theuser may start using the hearing aids 1 as the hearing aids 1 havealready been personalized based on the users audiogram. If a need forcorrection occurs, the user may request a consultation a hearinghealthcare professional having equipment 45 for fine tuning the hearingaids 1 is established in step 109. The hearing healthcare professionalconnects his fine tuning equipment 45 to the hearing aids 1 and finetuning the hearing aids 1 in dialogue with the hearing aid user in step110. The fine tunes programming takes place at a location remotely(decentralized) from manufacturing facilities—preferably at the hearingcare professional or at home of the hearing aid user—in steps 109-110.As it will appear from the description below, the steps of fine tuningmay employ an Internet based video chat, where the consultation betweenthe hearing aid user and a hearing healthcare professional takes placeover the Internet 35, while the actual fine tuning takes place by aprogramming channel set up by means of the master server 37 and uses thepersonal communication device 30 as a gateway to the hearing aids 1.

A first embodiment for fine tuning the hearing aid 1 according to theinvention is illustrated in FIG. 6. The hearing healthcare professionalmay be placed in a medical call center and he uses his computer 44 asequipment for fine tuning the hearing aids 1. When having a consultationwith a hearing aid user, the hearing healthcare professional is able toaccess the user account in the master server 37—here named as a ClientPortal Medical Database 62 by means of the computer 44. Hereby he willbe able to inspect the stored audiogram, and inspect the currentsettings for alleviating the user's hearing loss. He will furthermore beable to retrieve the hearing aid ID from the dedicated hearing aid IDdata field 57 and the necessary security elements from the securityelements data field 58. The necessary security elements are here namedas a User Rights Management (URM) Database 63 as these security elementsdefines what the hearing healthcare professional is permitted to do inrelation to the reading and editing of the software setting of thehearing aid 1.

A server 64 provides real-time direct, encrypted communication between aremote session client running on the computer 44 and an app program 71on the personal communication device 30. The platform for setting up thedirect, encrypted communication includes a client plug-in to beintegrated into the hearing aid programming client from which a hearinghealthcare professional would like to establish a secure connectionbetween a client communication devices (tablets, smartphones, computers)and resource limited devices (e.g. less than 1 kb RAM). The platformprovides direct real-time connectivity with no firewall or dynamic IPissues. The platform for setting up the direct, encrypted communicationfurthermore includes a device plug-in for implementation in the resourcelimited device. Hereby each resource limited device is given a uniqueidentity in a Domain Name System (DNS).

The remote session client on the computer 44 initiates a direct,encrypted connection to the hearing aid 1 via the personal communicationdevice 30, and the communication server 64 mediates this directconnection. The unique identity in DNS of the hearing aid 1/personalcommunication device 30 is mapped to the IP address of the communicationserver 64, as the hearing aid 1/personal communication device 30registers when online. The remote session client on the computer 44 istherefor able to look for available devices in this database, andtherefore find the hearing aid 1/personal communication device 30 ifonline. Once the connection between the remote session client on thecomputer 44 and the hearing aid 1/personal communication device 30 hasbeen established, the communication server 64 leaves the session. Nodata relating to a session are stored in the communication server 64.

The hearing aid programming client on the computer 44 may however alsodiscover the device if located on the same LAN and communicate directlythe hearing aid 1/personal communication device 30 without calling thecommunication server 64—which is useful for bootstrap scenarios or foroffline sessions (direct Bluetooth Low Energy connection not involvingthe Internet). The hearing aid programming client contains the remotesession client and uses this client for setting up the direct, encryptedconnection to the hearing aid 1 via the personal communication device30.

The hearing aid programming client may use the remote session client indifferent ways. The hearing aid programming client may be an HTMLapplication that uses the remote session client to handle data in aJavaScript scripting language in a web application—in this scenario theremote session client is typically a web browser plugin or mobileapp—preferably distributed from the communication server 64 to thehearing aid programming client and is denoted an HTML device driverbundle.

The customer's client application can also be a native (non-HTML)application, linked with a remote session client API library. The nativehearing aid programming client application can use the samerequest/response mechanism to invoke the device as HTML applications do.Additionally, the native client can establish streaming data connectionswith the hearing aid 1/personal communication device 30—this is apopular way of adding seamless, secure remote access capabilities tolegacy client and device applications.

For the hearing healthcare professional operating from a computer ine.g. a medical call center, the primary purpose for running the hearingaid programming client on the computer 44 is to be able to adjust thesettings of a hearing aid 1. From the Client Portal Medical Database 62,the hearing healthcare professional is able to import the relevant datafor the user and his hearing aids 1 into the client application. Fromthe User Rights Management (URM) Database 63 the hearing healthcareprofessional is able to obtain the certificates require to perform thefine tuning of the hearing aid 1. By means of the IP address obtainedfrom the communication server 64, the hearing aid programming clientsets up a real-time direct, encrypted communication channel via theInternet 35, the personal communication device 30 and finally to thehearing aid 1. The hearing aid user may have a personal computer 65 nextto him so he is able to see and have a conversation with the hearinghealthcare professional via Skype® or another appropriate video chatplatform.

The personal communication device 30 is associated with the hearing aiduser, and it includes a cellular/WLAN radio 76 connecting the personalcommunication device 30 to the internet 35. A short range radio 77connects the personal communication device 30 to the hearing aid 1 bymeans of the Bluetooth Low Energy protocol. Furthermore, the personalcommunication device 30 includes audio elements 73 (like a speaker and amicrophone), UI elements 74 (like a touch screen or keys and a display),and a processor 75 controlling the operation of the personalcommunication device 30. The personal communication device 30 has memory70 (e.g. EEPROM)—here containing a hearing aid specific app 71 and aplug-in for direct, encrypted communication 72 supporting programming ofthe hearing aid 1 from a remote computer 44. The hearing aid specificapp 71 notifies the communication server 64 when the hearing aid 1 isavailable—either every time a Bluetooth connection is established orwhen the user actively confirms that a notification is needed.

By interviewing and providing sound examples for the user via thehearing aid, the hearing healthcare professional can make minoradjustment to the current settings and load these adjustments into thehearing aid 1 via the secure communication channel set up. Bluetooth LowEnergy protocol is specified in a way so a single data packet maycontain between 2 to 39 bytes. An adjustment of the setting ispreferably contained in one data packet.

A second embodiment for fine tuning the hearing aid 1 according to theinvention is illustrated in FIG. 7. This embodiment is similar to theembodiment shown in FIG. 6—apart from that the personal communicationdevice 30 is connected to the hearing aid 1 via an Interface module 85.The interface module 85 has a first short range radio 81 communicatingwith the similar short range radio 77 in the personal communicationdevice 30 using e.g. the Bluetooth Low Energy protocol. The interfacemodule 85 has a second short range radio 82 communicating with thesimilar short range radio 80 in the hearing aid 1 using a powerefficient proprietary protocol, which is preferred to be inductive. Theinterface module 85 has a UI element 83 for answering calls etc. and aprocessor 82 for translating data between the two wireless protocols. Asthe Interface module 85 is intended to be transparent between thepersonal communication device 30 and the hearing aid 1, the remote finetuning will be similar to what is explained with reference to FIG. 6.However a parallel video call has been omitted in this embodiment.

A third embodiment for fine tuning the hearing aid 1 according to theinvention is illustrated in FIG. 8. A table computer 86 is used in aface to face consultation between the hearing healthcare professionaland the hearing aid user. The table computer 86 is paired with thehearing aid 1, and it has basically the same functionality as thepersonal communication device 30 in FIGS. 6 and 7. A direct BluetoothLow Energy connection is set up between the table computer 86 and thehearing aid 1 (offline session) without having to call the communicationserver 64. In this scenario the fitting software for fine tuning thehearing aid 1 is running on the tablet computer instead of on thecomputer 44. However, the hearing healthcare professional is still ableto import the relevant data for the user and his hearing aids 1 from theClient Portal Medical Database 62, into the client application nowrunning on the tablet fitting computer 86, and to obtain thecertificates require to perform the fine tuning of the hearing aid 1from the User Rights Management (URM) Database 63.

As an alternative to the fine tuning process, the hearing aid 1 mayinclude adaptive algorithms, so the hearing aid 1 in response to userinput adapts the hearing aid setting (minor adjustment). This may be ifthe user corrects the volume shortly after entering a specific hearingaid program, like the music program. If the correction (e.g. 2 steps upin volume) is the same for a number of program shifts (e.g. 3), then thehearing aid 1 recognizes the correction to be a general correctionrequested by the user, and the specific program is adjusted accordingly(the volume of the music program is increased 2 steps) next time thespecific program is entered. This may also be implemented audioenvironments and other specific listening situations.

FIG. 9 illustrates that the manufacturing and basic programming of ahearing aid traditionally has taken place centrally in the manufacturingfacility, while the personalization of the hearing aid—includingprogramming based on an audiogram and subsequent fine tuning has takenplace at a distributed or remote site—typically by a hearing healthcareprofessional. The invention teaches how the audiogram of a hearing aiduser may bring the personalization of the hearing aid—includingprogramming based on an audiogram—to the central handling site where theprogramming may be performed more cost efficiently. The subsequent finetuning—if needed—will now take place at a distributed or remotesite—typically by a hearing healthcare professional. Hereby it becomespossible to employ new radio technology to fine tune a hearing aidhaving limited resources for handling software updates.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method of personalizing at least onehearing aid for a hearing aid user, comprising: manufacturing at leastone hearing aid at a manufacturing facility; receiving an audiogram froma server managing user accounts for a plurality of hearing aid users,the user accounts each including an audiogram for a respective hearingaid user; programming the at least one hearing aid in a programmingstation of the manufacturing facility by means of the audiogram, whereinthe at least one hearing aid becomes personalized for the hearing aiduser, and the programming of the at least one hearing aid takes place,in the programming station of the manufacturing facility; packaging, inpackaging station of the manufacturing facility, the at least onehearing aid for distribution; and delivering the at least onepersonalized hearing aid to the hearing aid user.
 2. The methodaccording to claim 1, further comprising the steps of providing aconsultation between the hearing aid user and a hearing healthcareprofessional having equipment for fine tuning the hearing aid;connecting the fine tuning equipment to the at least one personalizedhearing aid; and fine tuning the at least one personalized hearing aidin dialogue between the hearing healthcare professional and the hearingaid user.
 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the consultationbetween the hearing aid user and a hearing healthcare professional isprovided as a face-to-face session, and wherein the hearing healthcareprofessional carries out the fine tuning by connecting his fine tuningequipment to the at least one personalized hearing aid via a short rangewireless connection.
 4. The method according to claim 2, furthercomprising the steps of connecting the at least one personalized hearingaid to the Internet; and providing the consultation between the hearingaid user and a hearing healthcare professional as a remote consultationover the Internet; whereby the hearing healthcare professional carriesout the fine tuning of the at least one personalized hearing aid via theInternet.
 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the steps ofconnecting the at least one personalized hearing aid to the Internetincludes connecting and pairing the at least one personalized hearingaid with a personal communication device by using a short range wirelessconnection, whereby the personal communication device operates asgateway to the Internet for the at least one personalized hearing aid.6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the programming of the atleast one hearing aid by means of the audiogram includes configuring asignal processor of the hearing aid based on the audiogram foramplifying sound at frequencies in those parts of the audible frequencyrange where the user suffers a hearing deficit.
 7. The method accordingto claim 6, wherein the programming of the at least one hearing aidincludes applying a frequency transposition technique.
 8. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein said audiogram for each respective hearingaid user is derived at a location remote from said manufacturingfacility.
 9. A hearing aid delivery system for personalizing one or morehearing aids, comprising: a server managing user accounts for aplurality of hearing aid users, said user accounts including anaudiogram reflecting a hearing loss for a hearing aid user; aprogramming station adapted to receive and program the said one or morehearing aids; and a packaging station in a manufacturing facility forpackaging the at least one hearing aid for delivering the at least onepersonalized hearing aid to the hearing aid user; wherein theprogramming station is adapted to receive programming instructions fromthe server for pre-programming the one or more hearing aids by means ofthe audiogram, whereby the one or more hearing aids become personalizedfor alleviating the hearing loss of the hearing ad user.
 10. The systemaccording to claim 9, wherein programming equipment for, during finetuning in consultation between the hearing aid user and a hearinghealthcare professional, can be connected to the hearing aid; wherebythe hearing healthcare professional connects his fine tuning equipmentto the at least one personalized hearing aid, and carries out the finetuning of the at least one personalized hearing aid in dialogue with thehearing aid user.
 11. The system according to claim 10, wherein theprogramming equipment is connectable to the at least one personalizedhearing aid via a short range wireless connection for fine tuning the atleast one personalized hearing aid in a face-to-face session.
 12. Thesystem according to claim 10, wherein an Internet enabled personalcommunication device and the at least one hearing aid are provided withrespective transceivers for establishing a wireless connection, wherebythe personal communication device becomes a gateway for the at least onehearing aid to the Internet; and wherein the programming equipment is anInternet enabled computer from which the hearing healthcare professionalsets up the remote consultation with the hearing aid user and carriesout the fine tuning of the at least one personalized hearing aid byusing the personal communication device as a gateway.
 13. The deliverysystem according to claim 9, wherein said audiogram for each respectivehearing aid user is derived at a location remote from said manufacturingfacility.
 14. A hearing aid personalization system for personalizing atleast one hearing aid for a hearing aid user, wherein the hearing aidpersonalization system is present in a manufacturing facility andreceives said at least one hearing aid, said hearing aid personalizationsystem, comprising: a server managing accounts including personalinformation and audiograms for a plurality of hearing aid users; aprogramming station configured to receive said hearing aid and toreceive programming instructions from the server for programming the atleast one hearing aid by means of an audiogram received from the serverand reflecting a hearing loss of a respective hearing aid user, wherebythe at least one hearing aid becomes personalized for alleviating thehearing loss of the hearing aid user; a packaging station for packagingthe at least one hearing aid; and a distribution unit for delivering theat least one hearing aid to the hearing aid user based on personalinformation received from the server.
 15. The personalization systemaccording to claim 14, wherein said audiogram reflecting the hearingloss of each respective hearing aid user is derived at a location remotefrom said manufacturing facility.